C. F. Martin 0-15 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1951), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 118315, natural mahogany finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
A great-playing and sounding postwar all-mahogany 0-15, the bottom-ranked instrument of Martin's guitar line. This small-bodied mahogany guitar still has a surprisingly loud voice, and sounds great finger- or flatpicked. The model is a study in careful economy; the finish was less polished than the otherwise identical 0-17 and there is no ornament besides a dark soundhole ring, the nut is ebony and the tuners are simple openback plastic-button Klusons. While this was the least expensive guitar Martin offered in 1951, listing for $60.00, it still is built to the expected Martin standard of quality and an extremely fine instrument.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). A really fine playing small-body Martin; overall quite nice with some finish checking and small dings and scrapes. All original finish and hardware, has had a recent neck set with plenty of saddle and two small top cracks off the bottom edge repaired. A very good sounding guitar, proof that in the 1950's Martin could make even the plainest instruments sing. Generally Excellent - Condition.
